Posted by Dublover [LovesDubs] on November 11, 1999 at 22:44:04 {mJnjjpluA6/CPYT8orz2SQBW4HHNMw}:
In Reply to: birthdays posted by disko on November 11, 1999 at 12:26:12:
I watched my kids have an absolute BALL today at a birthday party...something they didnt enjoy until only two short years ago. My thoughts on birthdays and the WTS mentality on them are:
All those kids under two that were killed surrounding Jesus birth...hey..we was a TODDLER before Herod got this brilliant idea...so there was no ONE DAY involved here and it was the day of Christs BIRTH that Herod was mad about, not his BIRTHDAY which an annual celebration of the EVENT of ones birth. So that doesnt wash.
The WTS often quotes the scripture that says (basically) that BETTER is the day of ones death than his birth. Does that in any way denounce the importance of ones birth, say like CHRISTS as being of NO COUNT AT ALL? It says BETTER...indicating that the other is only a small SHADE behind in importance. Ask any ad writer what BETTER means. He will probably say that it means there is not a dang bit of difference between this shampoo and that shampoo and that it would be nigh on impossible for anyone to disprove or disprove that one product is "better" than another...they are THAT close.
As for Johns beheading at a birthday party...the scriptures say that John would be the one going forth before Jesus preparing His way. When the bible makes clear when John dies, it also makes clear where Jesus's ministry begins and Johns preparatory work ends. THAT is why it is mentioned there..not the stupid party. Johns death takes back seat to some animal's idea of fun. And the WTS ignores it as well.
As for the cup bearer's demise...Joseph was in a cell with the God given gift of interpreting dreams, or so he claimed. He told the cup bearer he would die. The death of the cup bearer was PROOF that Joseph could indeed interpret dreams and he was sent to interpret the Pharoahs dreams of the cows and corn. It was PUT THERE to prove God was with JOSEPH not to prove birthday parties were PAGAN! Do we see a pattern developing here?
And yes...there is Job's story which the WTS loves to paint as Job having Sunday dinner with his kids, each one having his own "day" to make the roast beef and mashed potatoes and have Dad over. Even though Job says his OWN "day" is his day of BIRTH. Which you DONT see closely examined by the WT when birthdays are the topic.
The WTS could, effortlessly, turn the skies purple and convince the masses with "proof texts" and a series of "..." that it is indeed purple.
To the rest of us for whom the sky is still lovely azure...HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And that includes YOU, J.C. Deck them halls baby.